What are you running for winters?

[ksa]

Do any of you with M3's or M4's with winter tires do any highway driving at all? Especially in Alberta...I had a M3 with winter tires last winter which I rarely drove. Picked up a 440 GC for this winter and it's obviously good in winter with AWD but I am bored as hell. Thinking of getting the M3 again but I do fair bit highway driving. Will winter tires be good enough to settle the fears and make it safe?

[allies_jh]

I have Michelin X-ice tires are they're pretty good. I'm in Calgary too. I do some highway driving between Calgary and Chestermere and it hasn't been an issue. Knock on wood!

[Zermatt]

Hakka R2s.

[myzmak]

Originally Posted by azn_fcuk

Im out in Calgary...
more ice than snow here the last few seasons.

Was thinking of switching to studded tires, but we get a fair bit of chinooks so it may snow and extreme cold for 2 days and warm up for 3 or so then its all over again.

I use the PA4s here in YYC.

Work fine for me - with the mild enough temps and the amount of salt the city throws down, I haven't had any issues.

(of course, on really awful days I can avoid driving by taking the train to work. if you don't have that option....maybe studs would be ok BUT frankly most days I am on pavement - either chinooked or salted, so I'd worry about the wear and noise on those)

[azn_fcuk]

Originally Posted by (((myzmak)))

I use the PA4s here in YYC.

Work fine for me - with the mild enough temps and the amount of salt the city throws down, I haven't had any issues.

(of course, on really awful days I can avoid driving by taking the train to work. if you don't have that option....maybe studs would be ok BUT frankly most days I am on pavement - either chinooked or salted, so I'd worry about the wear and noise on those)

I just had the Hakka 9's installed yesterday.... its nothing but grip grip grip I hit a patch of black ice in a corner and it felt just as if I was alittle heavy on the throttle for a sec then back in control.

On the dry stuff it was loud but didnt seen any worse that shitty cheap winter tire, albeit im very concerned about the wear during the dry chinook times, these bastards arent cheap!

[zerofighter]

I have Hakka R2s on the F80 and WS80s on the F30. With the small amount of time on each, I would say that the WS80s are better in the dry as the R2s feel like crap when its warm and dry but the R2s are better in the snow. Overall, I'd say the R2s are better in bad conditions but I feel that the F80's diff plays a part in it.

It just started to get cold here in Calgary so I'm interested to see how the R2s will perform on ice compared to the WS80s.

[allies_jh]

Originally Posted by zerofighter

I have Hakka R2s on the F80 and WS80s on the F30. With the small amount of time on each, I would say that the WS80s are better in the dry as the R2s feel like crap when its warm and dry but the R2s are better in the snow. Overall, I'd say the R2s are better in bad conditions but I feel that the F80's diff plays a part in it.

It just started to get cold here in Calgary so I'm interested to see how the R2s will perform on ice compared to the WS80s.

How's your car holding up in the snow today?

[TShirt604]

Wheel spacers (these were already on the car)
Macht Schnell - 20mm

Wheels (square setup)
Replika R163A G.BLK / Size: 19x9.5 / Offset:+35

Tires
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 - 255/35R19 96 R XL

[zerofighter]

Originally Posted by allies_jh

How's your car holding up in the snow today?

It did handled the snow better than the F30, didn't really have any issues with inclines or icy patches. That being said, I did have the usual wheel spin on intersections that were pure ice, but then again, most cars will have similar issues. I'll probably throw some weight in the trunk for that added traction.

[DocOct]

Originally Posted by zerofighter

It did handled the snow better than the F30, didn't really have any issues with inclines or icy patches. That being said, I did have the usual wheel spin on intersections that were pure ice, but then again, most cars will have similar issues. I'll probably throw some weight in the trunk for that added traction.

I put two heavy sandbags in mid winter last year and it made a big difference especially on heavy snow days. Last winter running Hakka r2 and I was passing stuck cars up hills. Probably best gripping winter tire I've had over the years.

[zerofighter]

Originally Posted by DocOct

I put two heavy sandbags in mid winter last year and it made a big difference especially on heavy snow days. Last winter running Hakka r2 and I was passing stuck cars up hills. Probably best gripping winter tire I've had over the years.

How heavy were the sandbags? Trying to figure out the appropriate weight.

[DocOct]

Originally Posted by zerofighter

How heavy were the sandbags? Trying to figure out the appropriate weight.

I think they're about 50lbs each. Large bags from Home Depot. Not the little tiny ones.

[Tacoma]

Originally Posted by FirstF80InSpace

Isn't that overkill? I would imagine Calgary streets are cleared of snow relatively quickly. At least in Toronto, there maybe a few days where snow accumulates before it's cleared, but I would say over 95% of winter driving is on dry pavement.

That's where a performance winter tire would have an advantage over Hakkas.

If we call winter driving period between Dec-Mar then that's 121 days, so 95% of that is 115 days in dry pavement. Where in Canada does it rain/snow only 6 days out of 121? Not here in the GTA, not even close.

My 2 cents is wet traction for the F8x is already not great, put a dust cover of snow or ice on top and it gets even worse. Even if you decide to not to drive when it snows, there's no guarantee you won't run into unexpected snow squalls. There can also be unexpected ice on dry pavement.

Winter driving to me is almost purely defensive even on the best of days. No one should be racing or driving aggressive/fast. IMHO, winter performance tires is a compromise not unlike all seasons for summers. The only place where I can see where winter performance tires fitting in Canada is Vancouver where it hardly snows and the softer rubber of winter tires gives you better traction in sub-zero temperature.

For other places in Canada, particular for the F8x, I think you go for the best snow/ice traction tires you can find and that means getting proper snow/ice tires. It's your best insurance against an accident. We've been lucky here in Toronto the past 2 winters where we've had relatively fewer snow. But they're predicting worse than average and what worked the past 2 winters may not be so fine this winter.

[tcharged]

Blizzak LM001 - I'm about to buy a set for my F80. What do you guys think about that? Replaces the LM32. Not many reviews online.
I had WS80s on my ISF and chewed through them in one winter haha

[azn_fcuk]

Originally Posted by tcharged

Blizzak LM001 - I'm about to buy a set for my F80. What do you guys think about that? Replaces the LM32. Not many reviews online.
I had WS80s on my ISF and chewed through them in one winter haha

I hadnt known the lm32's were replaced. I didnt care to much for the lm32s when i was running them, wish I would have gone with something different after the first season with them.

[frcefed579]

Originally Posted by azn_fcuk

I hadnt known the lm32's were replaced. I didnt care to much for the lm32s when i was running them, wish I would have gone with something different after the first season with them.

Same here! I've been a hardcore Nokain guy for the last 12 years.. I made the mistake of going LM32's.... well I didn't have much of a choice as I picked my car up the middle of Feb and they were sold out of the nokians I wanted.

I've tried bridgestone, michelins, toyo and dunlops.. so far none of them came close to the Nokians IMO. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure any winter tire will be better than all seasons.. But Nokians definitely get my vote and if they aren't available when I get my new ride, then I'll just wait till next season.

[kingcub]

kinda off topic, where do you guys buy your winter tires?
looking to buy a set of 19" for the M3.

[Parabolica]

Tires23 in Mississauga has great prices on tires. Quick and friendly service as well.

[snowmuch]

Im in calgary and I use DWS06 all year around

[ivanski]

GTS G501's 19x9.5 squared on Winguard sport 255/35/19's

[tcharged]

Originally Posted by azn_fcuk

I hadnt known the lm32's were replaced. I didnt care to much for the lm32s when i was running them, wish I would have gone with something different after the first season with them.

What about Conti Wintercontact TS830P in 18's or 19's?

[FirstF80InSpace]

Originally Posted by kingcub

kinda off topic, where do you guys buy your winter tires?
looking to buy a set of 19" for the M3.

Rennsportire. Ask for Victor.